From Sunday Times(perthnow) review:he immaculately turned out Cohen frequently knelt in front of his band. From the audience, it wasn’t clear if he was doing it for affect or to read a teleprompter, but it didn’t matter. It added rather than detracted from the performance.
thoughts?

Thank-you for an amazing website on Leonard Cohen’s work incredibly comprehensive and alerted me to films that I did not even know existed.

I had the good fortune to see Leonard’s concert at the A Sydney Entertainment centre last week (28 Jan 09) which was absolutely sensational. Very inspiring to see him in such magnificent voice, humour and with an amazing band. I also was lucky enough to see him in 1979 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. A tour that also included Sharon Robinson. That concert too was incredible and Leonard did 8 encores I remember.

My own relationship with Leonard Cohen’s music started when at the age of 14 (1969) I heard “You know Who I Am” on the local folk program in my native New Zealand. Until then I had been an ardent Beatles fan and a writer of tiny poems about icicles and frost. My father (a jazz pianist and pharmacist) had insisted that my voice was not meant for public consumption and was rather convinced that I had inherited my musicality from my mothers side (who where all tone deaf). Leonard’s songs; sparse , lyrical, pared down to their essence, spoke to me so strongly that I deluded myself that I might be able to follow in his footsteps writing poetic songs that would connect with others without the need of amplified guitar licks, drums or a vocal range over half an octave..

I became obsessed with songwriting I got a guitar and worked may way through the Leonard Cohen songbook. I went overseas and busked Leonard Cohen songs in the Subways of Paris. I visited Hydra on a pilgrimage to see where Cohen had lived with the mythical Marianne and written those songs that had changed my life.

Several years later I returned to New Zealand from Europe armed with songs inspired by that journey including “Ten Francs” - the story of a busker in Paris who never thanked an unknown patron who gave him Ten Francs for singing “That’s No Way to Say Goodbye”. (Perhaps it was Leonard himself I surmise)

I found some sympathetic musicians and recorded a self-financed album Wayward Son and made the finals of the NEW Zealand music awards in 1984 also winning an APRA songwriting award that year for the song Away With You.

The critical success of this album lead me to being signed to CBS/Sony records in NZ (Leonards own label!!) and producing two albums for them, New Locations (produced by Fairport Convention’s the late Trevor Lucas) and Living in Exile. Also opening shows for Suzanne Vega and the late Chris Whitley.

Critical successes but unfortunately lacking commercially viable sales. However a number of these songs began to be covered/recorded by other artists in New Zealand and I started releasing records independently whilst studying for a psychology degree. My research on the “Personality of Musicians” being published in the UK Journal; Psychology of Music.

For the last 12 years I have been writing and recording original songs for a 6th album with Drummer Rob Grosser. Finally this project is nearing completion and I have called the band “Famous Blue Raincoat” in tribute to the man whose music changed my life 4 decades ago. Now 40 years later I am humbled and ferociously inspired again after seeing his majestic performance as a 75 year old “kid with a crazy dream”. This old disciple has been newly invigorated by the vigor and wisdom of his performance as a septegarian at the peak of his game.

I would love to share some of this music we are making with you and other Cohen fans.

Hi Wayne
Thank you so much for sharing that story .... I am new to this site but I think that is one of the greatest things about sites like this is that you can share stuff like that with people who really appreciate and can understand the significance of what you say ...
I think it is wonderful that Leonard inspired you so significantly .... in fact you probably always 'had it in you' to be a musician but listening to Leonard seems to have inspired you to think that you could make it ... gave you the confidence to have a go...
That is the legacy that he leaves .. that he has inspired others .... wouldnt it be wonderful to share that story with him ...
Does he ever come on the site ??? Wouldnt it be great if he did .???
Anyway I havent had a listen to your music yet Wayne but I am about to ....
Once again thanks for sharing .....
keep smiling

In the rhythm of Life, we sometimes find ourselves out of tune, but as long as there are friends to provide the melody, The music plays on.

I was seated in the second row at Sandalford last night and Leonard did not appear to be kneeling for any other reason than to relate to the other musicians or to be 'within' himself. No prompters visible and we were very close.
PS got some amazing close up shots I'd like to share.

Hi Scuddie
Would love to see those pics ...I even handed my email address to a couple sitting in front of me at the concert I went to and asked them to email me some of the great pics I could see them taking ... we had a little chat during the intermission .... but you know they havent sent them ... ho hum .!!!

In the rhythm of Life, we sometimes find ourselves out of tune, but as long as there are friends to provide the melody, The music plays on.

Thanks for your post virg. Yes it's great to be in contact with others who "get"
the impact that Leonard's music can have on you.
As another friend of mine said once you felt on the outer if you were listening to his music now
everyone you met is a Leonard Cohen fan -amazing!

Yes that would be great if Leonard got to hear some of these stories from his fans.

I played support for Suzanne Vega, Neil Finn and the late bluesman Chris Whitley in the 80's & 90's but to open a show for Leonard Cohen that is the top of my "bucket list!".

Thank you Wayne for sharing your story with us.
I so wish you had had the opportunity to be the support to Leonard's concert in New Zealand.
When I discovered that Sam Hunt was the support act my initial reaction was shock and bewilderment.
I knew there must have been some very talented New Zealanders out there that deserved a chance. Reading
your story, I now know there is.

So weird to think of all these people, myself included, having had such personal reactions to LC from our youths onwards, - on the boards so many similar feelings. For years i thought i was the only one that liked him.

Evening music lovers ..
Just wanted to share something with you .....
As you may or may not be aware here in Australia we have had terrible bushfires in country Victoria ..... 181 people confirmed dead and > 750 houses destroyed and the numbers are still rising ... Anyway I am currently watching a fundraiser on TV and an Australian music promoter Michael Gudinski ( he organised Leonards tour in Australia BTW ) He just got on the TV and said that his mate Leonard Cohen had been so affected by the tragedy that he has donated $200 000 to the appeal !!!! WHAT A LEGEND !!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much Leonard .... for coming to Australia to share your magic with us ... and it is magical really it is !!! ......and also for your generous donation to help those so sadly effected by this tragedy ....thank u thank u thank u xxxxx

In the rhythm of Life, we sometimes find ourselves out of tune, but as long as there are friends to provide the melody, The music plays on.

Yes it is weird being on a forum with many other like-minded souls in the old days professing love for leonard's work was not often greeting with "oh me too!!" type of repsonses. But times have changed and his music I think has really become part of popular culture now. The supurb "I'm your Man" film and CD also helped bring his music to a younger audience too.

Re: Bushfires - What an amazingly generous gesture on behalf of Leonard and his team to donate $200,000 to the appeal. I feal like Leonard is at the forfront of re-establishing a voice and respect for sage-like elders of our communities with his grace, wisdom ,humility and generosity.

Hi Wayne
Just followed the link to your music and am glad to see that Leonard gave you the inspiration to follow your dream. Also a long time fan of our man, it is wonderful to realize, at this late date, that I am part of that awakening to the impact and spiritual connection provided by Leonard's music. Arjuna Ardagh describes Leonard as the #1 Translucent musician of our time in his book The Translucent Revolution. Stories like yours validate that claim.